WASHINGTON, D.C., May 28, 2024 – In a meeting with the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) and the Association of Marina Industries (AMI) formally requested the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) withdraw its proposed amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule. The associations advocated for reopening the docket to gather additional public comments on alternative measures that effectively mitigate whale strikes without compromising boater safety and the coastal economy.
In a letter addressed to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and in comments during the meeting itself, MRAA and AMI emphasized the significant detrimental impact the proposed rule would have on the recreational boating and fishing industry, with a particular focus on marine retailers and marinas. The current rule proposes a 10-knot speed restriction for vessels, a measure that both associations argue is not only ineffective but also poses substantial safety risks and economic burdens. To read the letter, click here.
“The proposed 10-knot speed limit severely underestimates the economic impact on small businesses and the broader coastal economy,” stated Mike Sayre, MRAA Director of Government Relations. “Our survey indicates that the rule could result in an annual economic loss exceeding $2 billion for marine dealers, brokers and marinas along the Atlantic coast. This is far greater than the $46 million impact estimated by NMFS and our survey doesn’t take into account the impact on marine manufacturers, the recreational fishing industry, nor the coastal communities that rely on boaters as an economic driver.”
During the meeting, the associations presented survey data showing potential losses in sales, services and dockage revenues, emphasizing that many recreational and commercial boating activities would become untenable under the proposed rule. Furthermore, the associations also highlighted shortcomings with NMFS’s initial economic impact assessment and urged that NMFS expand its analysis to better consider the impact on marine retailers and marinas.
“In our meeting we strongly critiqued NMFS for missing the mark with their Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, keeping in mind that our job is to ensure that the interests of dealers are not being overlooked, and key decision makers understand how the proposed rule will negatively impact our members,” said Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager. “Our message centered on the deficiencies of the IRFA and the unconsidered effects on thousands of marine tradesmen and women. The entire focus of our meeting hinged on the fact that the impact to recreational boat dealers was not properly taken into account, and we are fighting to ensure that the agency is held accountable for what the economic numbers demonstrate is a gross oversight.”
NMFS’s initial estimate that this rule would result in an economic impact of only $46 million per year was based solely on its estimate of “delayed transit hours” for impacted vessels, which completely ignores the impacts to MRAA and AMI members. Unfortunately, this is an estimate of only a single and likely the smallest facet of the vast economic impact of the proposed rule, and our associations are demanding that NOAA re-do their Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) to capture the impact more accurately for our members.
As the proposed rule continues to make its way through the regulatory review process be sure to stay alert for further updates and potential calls to action. The rule is at a critical juncture in the review process and there may be further opportunities for MRAA Members to provide important insights as we enter the final stage of the review process. If you have any questions about the proposed rule, the OIRA process, or how the MRAA Government Relations team is working for you, please do not hesitate to reach out to Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager, at Chad@mraa.com.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.
About AMI: The Association of Marina Industries (AMI) is a leading organization representing over 1,000 marinas, boatyards, and marine dealers worldwide. AMI supports its members through advocacy, education, and promoting best practices in marina management.
